Active Member

Brasso is about the only commonly used polish that contains ammonia in any harmful quantity...and you can tell by the smell. I use a capful of NuFinish in my tumbler every once in a while and "reactivate" it occasionally with a capful of mineral spirits. Jeweler's rouge is another additive that adds nothing but a microfine abrasive to your tumbling media. I'm not as anal about getting a mirror shine on my brass as I once was...it will tarnish a little anyway if if don't use it right away. Nickel plated cases are nice for stockpiled ammo though.

Well-Known Member

Brasso is about the only commonly used polish that contains ammonia in any harmful quantity...and you can tell by the smell. I use a capful of NuFinish in my tumbler every once in a while and "reactivate" it occasionally with a capful of mineral spirits. Jeweler's rouge is another additive that adds nothing but a microfine abrasive to your tumbling media. I'm not as anal about getting a mirror shine on my brass as I once was...it will tarnish a little anyway if if don't use it right away. Nickel plated cases are nice for stockpiled ammo though.

Click to expand...

I use Stainless Steel Pins for the most part so "polish" not really a big deal in my "shop". When I do drag out the vibrator and fill it with corncob, I just use Nu-Finish. I save this for my finished rounds that I expect to have around for a while. The Nu-Finish adds just enough "wax" to keep the brass from tarnishing.

Just a note for any out there that load for their SHTF "stash", tarnish on brass is a good thing as long as it's just the antique bronze color, not "fuzzy green". There's nothing worse in a tactical situation than having shiny brass lying around or flying through the air. Might as well put up a neon sign with an arrow pointing at you.

Bronze SupporterBronze Supporter

Brasso is about the only commonly used polish that contains ammonia in any harmful quantity...and you can tell by the smell. I use a capful of NuFinish in my tumbler every once in a while and "reactivate" it occasionally with a capful of mineral spirits. Jeweler's rouge is another additive that adds nothing but a microfine abrasive to your tumbling media. I'm not as anal about getting a mirror shine on my brass as I once was...it will tarnish a little anyway if if don't use it right away. Nickel plated cases are nice for stockpiled ammo though.

Click to expand...

Huh...I had no idea, but after reading this yes the Brasso does smell like ammonia. I've never used any polishing compound in my tumbler, but had though about using Brasso. Thanks for the heads up. I usually pay more attention, but this got by me.

Silver SupporterSilver Supporter

I'm not in the army I like shinny clean brass makes it so much easier to find to pickup and use again. Compared to tarnished near camo brass that I end up crawling around on my hands and knees to find.

Well-Known Member

I would think that muzzle flash would make this a completely moot issue....

Click to expand...

First, remember I said in a "tactical situation". I rarely saw, if ever, any issued ammo that had any shine to it. We were instructed to remove ANY shine from just about everything we were issued and took to the field. Tape it up, scuff it up, or cammo it with good old fashioned Olive Drab FLAT paint.

The idea was to keep from being noticed BEFORE the SHTF. Once the first round went off it didn't matter but the idea was for YOU to be the one that fired the first shots.

Today, suppressors do a wonderful job of masking muzzle flashes and unlike the so called "smokeless" powders us reloaders use, the Military has some pretty good stuff that doesn't leave much of a trace.

If you like shiney brass, great. So do I, for the Range. For any time I want to remain as invisible as possible to the "other guy" dirty brass is just fine for me.

Ironbar, no, I can't cite a singe incident where it was documented. Does that mean you just ignore it? If reflections are no big deal both on the battlefield or even hunting, why do people even bother with ARD's for their scopes as well?

Well-Known Member

Gee Ironbar, I wonder if you ever served at all. I have this nice DD-214 that the Army gave me when I left their service back during Vietnam. Where did YOU serve?

Just so you can make yourself smarter than you sound, try reading this:

(4) Avoid shiny reflections. Reflection of light on a shiny surface
instantly attracts attention and can be seen from great distances.
The sniper uncovers his rifle scope only when indexing and aiming at
a target. He uses optics cautiously in bright sunshine because of the
reflections they cause.

Click to expand...

It comes from FM23-10 which was issued in 1994. It formalized most of what those who served when I did learned, many the hard way.

Again, I was clear to say two things in my post. First regarded "Tactical Situations" and second, if you want shiny brass, go for it.

Well-Known Member

Ammonia causes brass to become brittle leading to case failure. Some use polishes like Brasso (w/ammonia) and claim no issues. Others will avoid it, and any other polish with ammonia compounds like the plague.

I find it best to avoid known problem causes than to just ignore and hope no consequences occur.

Well-Known Member

Can you reference even once instance where this has ever occurred in the history of modern firearms, or is this something they teach at TFHU?

Click to expand...

Somehow I think the subject of shiney brass would not make it into any after action report. Even if that is what initially caused the action in question.

But yes, as deadshot says this is something which any professional military strives for very hard. At least they did when I was in the USMC and as a contractor in AFG. Besides, it seems to me just common sense. So why are you trying to pick a fight on your own thread Ironbar?

But back to the original subject now. It is nice to know there is no ammonia in Mother's Mag.

WELCOME!

Northwest Firearms provides a place for gun owners of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho a place to converse,
organize, learn, educate, trade, and most importantly, work together to preserve our Second Amendment rights.

Participation is completely free and registration takes only a few moments.

About Northwest Firearms

We believe the 2nd Amendment is best defended through grass-roots organization, education, and advocacy centered around individual gun owners. It is our mission to encourage, organize, and support these efforts throughout Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.